Thermostatic circuit closer



C. M. LITTLETON.

THERMOSTATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER. APPLICATION FILED 11.24, 1920.

1,432,113. Patented 001111922.

[we/2707" Charles M 11627565072 13 ,W,MM W

ratenteu UCII. II, 1344.

ITUH L LII CHARLES M. LITTLETON, 0F MADISON, WISCONSIN.

THERMOSTATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER.

Application filed April 24, 1920. Serial No. 376,210.

'1 '0 all 10. mm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, (humps M. LITTLETUN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county ofDane and State of 'isconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thermostatic Circuit Closers, of which the following is a s ecification.

This invention relates to thermostatic circuit closers or the like and its purpose is to provide improved temperature responsive devices which, in conjunction with a signalling apparatus is adapted to indicate the location of a fire in a building or an increase or decrease in ten'iperature therein beyond any desirable predetermined limits.

One disadvantage of the sprinkling system which is now in common use. is that the occurrence of a fire in a large room, for example, sets the sprinkling apparatus in operation throughout a large area in which there is no fire with the result that the damage occasioned by the water frequently compares in extent with the possible damage which might be cc asioned by the fire. This is particularly true in. stores and otlice buildings where goods are. frequently damaged throughout a large area of the building when in fact the fire has been confined to a small space.

The principal object of the present invention is the providing of an adjustable thermostatic device which will automatically close an electric circuit connecting said device with any suitable signalling apparatus when the temperature in the locality of the thermostat reaches a predetermined point. whereupon current from a source of electric energy will flow through the circuit thus established and energize the signalling mechanism. A further object is to provide means for indicating decreases in temperature as well as increases thereof, and thus the apparatus is adapted for use in storage plants or other places for indicating variations from the standard temperature which it is desired to maintain, as well as for indicating the existence of fires. Another important object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the temperature indicating devices in order to indicate any predetermined increase or decrease in temperature. Other objects relate to various features of constrl'uj-tion and arrangen'ient which will be set out more fully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the accompanyingdrawings in which certain embodiments are illustrated.

111 the drawings- Fig, 1 shows a vertical section of one of the thermostatic circuit controlling devices by which an alarm system is set in operation.

Fig. 2 shows an elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 looking toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1. V

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the circuit controlling apparatus is contained in a casing 35 having ahinged door 36 on one side thereof. The walls of this casing are provided with a plurality of apertures 37 to permit a free circulation of air therethrough so that a change in temperature in the region of the casing will be immediately felt. in the interior thereof. A thermostatic diaphragm 4.0. filled with ether or other suitable material. is mounted on a post 41 which is secured in the lower wall of the casing. The upper wall of this diaphragm carries a contact membe" L2 which is adapted to contact with the lower end of a contact post d3. This post 43 is slidably mounted in transverse frame members 4 1 which extend across the casing and the upper end thereof is engaged by a coiled spring 45 which normally forces the contact post 43 downwardly. This contact post is provided between the frame members 44 with a series of projecting pins at? which are adapted to be engaged by the inclined faces 4.8 of a number of adjusting members 50. These members are slidahly mounted in the wall of the casing and in a vertical frame member 51 which extends upwardly from the lower frame member ll. The adjusting members 50 project through the wall of the casing and are provided on their outer ends with enlarged heads 52, each of which has printed thereon the temperature for which that particular member is adapted to adjust the contact post 43. The projecting parts of the members 50 have pins 53 extending laterally therefrom and assuming that the inclined surfaces of the inner ends of the members 50 are located. one above the other, as illustrated, in the drawings. the pins 53 are located at different distances from the adjacent face of the casing. I pon pushing any pin 50 inwardly. its movement is limited by the pin 53 so that each member 50 locates the contact post 4 in a particular position due to the coaction o'l its surface 48 with one of the pins 47 carried by the contact post. For example, the lower key which indicates a temperature of 60 degrees will elevate the post 43 to a lesser extent when pushed inwardly than will the uppermost key which is adapted to indicate a temperature 01? 1.30 degrees The circuit controlling wires 16 are comiected to the contact post l3 and to the lower members stl and 42', as illustrated, so that when the diaphragm 4O expands it will. complete the circuit between the wires 17 and thereby operate the indicating mechanism heretofore described.

Although I have shown and described a certain ei'nbodiment of the invention for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that it may be Constructed in various other forms without departing from the scope of, the appended claims.

1.. In a device of the class described a casing, a contact member, a second Contact tending normally to engage said first contact, a plurality of pins actuatable to engage said second contact. and to adjust the same to correspond to predetermined temperatures, and a thermostatic member adapt ed to move said first contact into engagement with said other contact.

2. In a fire alarm system, a ten'iperatlnfe responsive device comprising a casing, a contact post movably mounted in .aid casing,

aplurality of adjusting members operatively connected to said post and extending therefrom to the outside of said casing,thermostatically operated means adapted to engage said post, and means controlling the operation of said. adjusting members to effect the positioning of said contact post by each. of them to correspond to a predetermined temperature.

3. In a fire alarm system, a temperature responsive device comprising a casing, a contact member slidably mounted in said casing, thermostatically operated means adapted to engage said contact member, a plurality of pins projecting from said con tact member, and a plurality oi. adjusting members each having an inclined face adapted to coact with one of said pins.

1 Ina fire alarm system, a temperature responsive device comprising a casing, a contact member slidably mounted in said casing, tl'iermostatically adapted to form a connection with said contact member, a plurality of pins projecting from said contact member, a plurality of. adjusting members each having an inclined face adapted to coact with one ot' said pins, and means associated with each of said adjusting members to limit the movement thereol at a predetermined point.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

CHARLES M. LITTLETON.

operated means 

